A daycare center in Hockley, Texas, got a lot of attention – and touched the nerve of a few moms and dads – after it posted up a sign on its door that called into question the bad behavior of certain parents. Taken aback by the center’s bluntness was one mom, whose photo of the sign went viral after she decided to share it online.
Rather than sharing information regarding the children, the daycare’s management had a strong message for parents who exhibited what they considered to be a terrible habit by far too many of them. While some agreed with the sign’s message, others were appalled by the criticism directed at them and left insulted.
The sign in question read:
“You are picking up your child! GET OFF YOUR PHONE!!!! Your child is happy to see you! Are you not happy to see your child?? We have seen children trying to hand their parents their work they completed and the parent is on the phone. We have heard a child say, ‘Mommy, mommy, mommy…’ and the parent is paying more attention to their phone than their own child. It is appalling. Get off your phone!!”
Juliana Farris Mazurkewicz, who took a picture of the sign and posted it to her Facebook page in February 2017, told the media she was shocked by the straightforward message but not necessarily upset by it as it addressed legitimate concerns. In fact, she also realized that, when she first saw and read the sign at the center, she herself had been holding her own phone in her hands.
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Mazurkewicz later told ABC News that she thought the sign was timely:
“The owner posted the sign on the door,” she said. “I was surprised that they would be so bold, but also I liked it. I thought it was on point,” she said.
Mazurkewicz added that the move was indicative of the care and love that the daycare staff had for the children in their care. The sentiment was shared by another mom, Coley Sloan Jones, who “thought it was a valid reminder to parents to be aware and attentive to their child or children.”
“Sometimes other things can wait, including a phone call,” she added.
Within days, more than a million people had responded to Mazurkewicz’s post. While many were in agreement with the sign’s message to parents, not everyone thought it was appropriate.
According to ABC News, one dissenting comment on the post read:
“I am appalled that a daycare would post this. I agree fully with the statement but abhor shaming. If this kind of shaming is done publicly, I hate to think of what happens to the children in their care.”
Mazurkewicz said while the sign had a polarizing response, at the very least, it brought the issue of how mindful parents should be around their children to the forefront.
“There’s a big divide in the comments. Half the people are saying it’s not the day care’s business what paying customers do, and the other half are saying that it’s great they are looking after the children’s well-being … There are a few that have said, ‘I need to work on this, which I think is pretty cool,” she told the outlet.
The fact that so many people have expressed such strong feelings about this incident speaks volumes about the role that phones have in our society. What are your thoughts on the daycare center’s approach? Let us know what you think, and don’t forget to help us spread the word by showing this story to your friends and family!
